BAY CITY, MI -- The Bay County Bar Association has named a Bay City high school teacher the most recent recipient of the Liberty Bell Award.

At its annual Law Day program held at the DoubleTree hotel and conference center May 6, the association gave the award to Amanda T. "Mandy" Klida, a teacher at John Glenn High School. She teaches courses in British, American, world, and young adult literature.

The award is given out annually to a non-attorney who has given their time and energy to the American system of freedom under law, in keeping with the spirit of the United States Constitution.

Klida was nominated for the distinction by her sister, Marci Klida-Blossom. Their mother is Bay County Chief District Judge Dawn A. Klida and their father is former Bangor Township Fire Chief Len F. Klida Jr., who received the Liberty Bell Award in 2003.

Jan A. Miner, an attorney with the public defender's office, gave an introductory speech before granting Klida the award. She said Klida received it due to using her role as a literature teacher to inform her students about the law.

"In her young adult literature class, she teaches three different novels that contain information relevant to the legal system," she said in her introductory speech. "Two of these novels, 'Breathing Underwater' and 'Aimee,' involve the concept of probation following commission and conviction of a crime. The third novel, 'Nineteen Minutes,' is actually set against the backdrop of a trial, allowing Mandy to discuss in detail with her students the full adjudication of a legal matter. In world literature, her students read 'A Time to Kill,' and are assigned a worksheet wherein they are able to research and discuss the various stages of a case before the court. Finally, Mandy has encouraged her students to participate in previous Liberty Bell Essay contests, even producing several winners."

Klida is a member of the Bangor Township Education Association, the Michigan Education Association, and the National Council of Teachers of English.

"Beyond raising awareness of the law in her classroom, Mandy also sets a formidable example of good citizenship," Miner continued. "She served the Bangor Township Schools for many years as a basketball coach at the elementary, middle school, and high school levels, often on a volunteer basis. Today, she serves as an adviser to Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) at John Glenn. She is active in her church, St. Boniface, of which she has been a member in regular attendance since baptism. She has volunteered there as a Eucharistic Minister, Lector, Religious Education Instructor, Youth Group Advisor, Food of Faith participant, funeral meal preparer, and member of the Christian Service Commission."

In her acceptance speech, Klida said she was humbled and honored.

While education and practicing law might not seem to have all that much in common, there are layers of similarity, Klida said.

"The legal field is held to a higher standard," she said. "We expect those who argue and uphold the law to represent it at their best. The same is true for teachers. While I am not always thrilled about the scrutiny that I am under, I also value that teacher are some of the first, and in many cases, the sole guidance for a young mind. We make an impression, either positive or negative, whether we want it or not."

She said she strives to impart a positive impression, which brought her to her second point of commonality between the two fields.

"We are in the business of public service," she said. "Unfortunately for many of you, you don't serve the public until something bad happens. You only hear from people if there is a problem. I get the best of both worlds. I get to serve the wonderful young men and women I see, and help shape them into their best possible selves."

Klida went on to say that teaching the law to her pupils is important as it helps them make fewer mistakes when they know about the potential consequences.

"I also strive to make them better citizens," she continued. "I believe educating my students on our legal system will not only make them better citizens, but also better people -- they will be informed, intelligent, and proud of what our system stands for, and thus less likely to abuse it. I sincerely hope I am impacting my students, and perhaps inspiring some of them to join the public service field we are a part of."